Electron-capture delayed fission properties of the new isotope [sup 238]Bk

Electron-capture delayed fission ECDF was studied in the new isotope [sup 238]Bk produced via the [sup 241]Am(75-MeV [alpha], 7[ital n])[sup 238]Bk reaction. The half-life of the fission activity was measured to be 144[plus minus]5 seconds. The mass-yield distribution is predominantly asymmetric and the most probable preneutron emission total kinetic energy of fission is 179[plus minus]7 MeV. The ECDF mode in [sup 238]Bk was verified by an x-ray-fission coincidence experiment which indicated that the [sup 238]Cm fission lifetime is between about 10[sup [minus]15] and 10[sup [minus]9] seconds. The isotope was assigned to [sup 238]Bk through chemical separation and observation of the known 2.4-h [sup 238]Cm daughter activity. No alpha branch was observed in the decay of [sup 238]Bk. The production cross section for [sup 238]Bk is 150[plus minus]20 nb and the delayed fission probability is (4.8[plus minus]2)[times]10[sup [minus]4].